Elicitation Techniques Research Articles

RED light promotes flavonoid and phenolic accumulation in Cichorium spp. callus culture as anti-candida agent

Chicory species, particularly Cichorium endive Supp. Pumillum, also, known as Egyptian chicory, are globally recognized for their rich content of bioactive secondary metabolites such as flavonoids and phenolics. These metabolites are highly valued for their pharmaceutical, dietary, and commercial applications. Light exposure, particularly through red and blue wavelengths, is a potent natural elicitor that influences the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and impacts plant morphology. This study investigates the effects of red and blue LED light exposure on the callus culture of Egyptian chicory (Cichorium endive Supp. Pumillum), with the aim of enhancing flavonoid accumulation for potential use as an anti-Candida agent. Callus cultures of Cichorium intybus, Cichorium endive Supp. Pumillum, and Taraxacum officinale (Italian chicory) were grown on MS media supplemented with 4 mg/L 2iP and 0.5 mg/L NAA for 4 weeks. The cultures were then exposed to 12 days of red and blue LED light. After extraction using liquid nitrogen and methanol, the resulting callus extracts were tested against Candida albicans NRRL477 at various concentrations (1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 MIC) for 20 to 120 min. The antifungal activity was assessed by determining the effects on acid-soluble phosphorus, total lipids, and soluble proteins in the Candida cells. Our results demonstrate that the red LED light-exposed Cichorium endive Supp. Pumillum callus extract exhibited the most potent antifungal activity, significantly inhibiting the growth of Candida species compared to blue light and control treatments. Notably, the red light-treated callus culture accumulated higher concentrations of flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which contributed to its effectiveness as an anti-Candida agent. These findings suggest that LED red light elicitation is an effective method for enhancing the production of bioactive compounds in Egyptian chicory, offering potential for its use in natural antifungal therapies. Future research will explore the mechanistic pathways of flavonoid accumulation under different light conditions and investigate the broader applications of this elicitation technique for other medicinal plants.

A Review of 25 Spontaneous and Dynamic Facial Expression Databases of Basic Emotions

Abstract Most prior research on basic emotions has relied upon posed, static displays that do not accurately reflect the facial behavior seen in everyday life. To address this gap, the present paper aims to highlight existing facial expression databases (FEDBs) that feature spontaneous and dynamic displays of the six basic emotions. To assist readers in their decisions about stimulus selection, we comprehensively review 25 FEDBs in terms of three key dimensions: (a) conceptual features which reflect thematic approaches in database construction and validation, i.e., emotional content and elicitation procedures, encoder demographics, measurement and elicitation techniques; (b) technical features which concern technological aspects in stimulus development, i.e., stimulus numbers and duration, frame rate, and resolution; and (c) practical features which entail information about database access and potential ethical restrictions. Finally, we outline some of the remaining challenges in stimulus generation and make recommendations for future research.

Conditional Constructions in Yemsa

Introduction. The main objective of this study is to produce a comprehensive description of Yemsa conditional constructions. The existing studies do not describe conditional clauses in Yemsa. This study aims to fill the gap in the description of the internal structure conditional clause of Yemsa.Methodology and sources. The data were collected through the elicitation technique through informant interviews about the conditional clause in Yemsa. The data were analyzed using a descriptive approach without considering any particular theoretical framework. The data was described and analyzed in light of general definitions and typological classifications of conditional constructions in the linguistic literature.Results and discussion. Antecedent and consequent clauses are attested. The morphemes occur in different types of conditional clauses. Canonical and non-canonical forms of conditional have been identified. The semantic-based classification of Yemsa conditionals is dealt with in light of Thompson et al.'s typological view. Real, unreal, counterfactual, hypothetical, concessive, and exceptive conditional are discussed. In Yemsa, the protasis of the real conditional clause type differs from the unreal protasis conditional clause type. A subordinate clause (the protasis) states some condition, the truth of which is not asserted, under which another main clause (the apodosis) holds.Conclusion. The study will provide some syntactic data to researchers in the comparative syntactic description of the Omoto languages about conditional clauses. It will serve as a good resource material for further theoretical studies concerning conditional constructions in general.

The Argument Structure of Intransitive Verbs in Toba Batak Language Aek Kanopan Dialect: A Grammatical Typology Analysis

The aim of the research is to describe the argument structure of intransitive verbs in Toba Batak language (TBL) Aek Kanopan dialect based on grammatical typology analysis. Data collections are gathered by applying conversational and listening method. Meanwhile, the main technique in collecting the data is elicitation technique, which is continued by several techniques, i.e. recording technique and taking note. The data is analyzed by distributional method as suggested by Sudaryanto (2015) and Mahsun (2011). With the use of the oral and written data, as well as the observation method, the analyzing data is done by using substitutional method, translational method, and referential method. The results of the analysis are provided by formal and informal methods. The result of this research shows that the argument structure of intransitive verbs in Toba Batak Language, Aek Kanopan dialect is that intransitive verbs can be divided into two types, namely verbs involving experiencer verbs and action verbs. Both types of verbs require only one argument, the subject, which grammatically functions as the only argument in the sentence. Semantically, the subject can act as an agent who performs an action or as an experiencer who experiences a state or feeling. Then, typologically of grammatical, the argument structure of intransitive verb in TBL Aek Kanopan dialect involved as an accusative-type language.

Critical appraisal of the Expert Knowledge Elicitation (EKE) methodology to identify uncertainties in building cumulative assessment groups for craniofacial alterations

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducted a retrospective cumulative dietary risk assessment (CRA) on active substances (AS) and metabolites included in the plant protection products registered in Europe which could provoke craniofacial alterations. Two Cumulative Assessment groups (CAGs) were established: one for alterations due to abnormal skeletal development (CAG-DAC) and one for head soft tissue alterations and brain neural tube defects (CAG-DAH).The probability that each substance is correctly assigned to the specific CAGs (CAG-membership probability) was assessed using weight of evidence and expert knowledge elicitation (EKE) techniques conducted for the six substances identified as risk drivers in each CAG. Four out of the six substances allocated to the CAG-DAC or to the CAG-DAH presented a large interval of uncertainty, with probability of belonging to the attributed CAG between 10 to 70% or 33 to 90%, which makes it difficult to determine if the substances truly belong to the CAG.In the present work the probability ranges of each risk driver were reassigned according to the approximate probability scale recommended in the EFSA guidance on uncertainty analysis. It is proposed that AS with a high probability are to be included in the CAG and those with a low probability removed from the CAG. For compounds with very large probability ranges, uncertainty assessments would have to be redone to reach narrower probability ranges. Finally, whenever recent decisions on reproduction toxicity classifications made by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) are available, these should be used to conclude on CAG memberships.

A Survey on Software Requirements Engineering in Information Technology Institutions

Requirements engineering is a crucial phase in software development. In theory, requirements gathering should follow structured and systematic steps to ensure all requirements are complete, consistent, and clear. However, there is a lack of research in real-world contexts, particularly in small and medium-sized software development organizations, which often face challenges related to human resources, infrastructure, and financial constraints. This study aims to explore the practices of requirements engineering in software development agencies. A qualitative approach was used, employing a narrative (descriptive) research design. Data were gathered through interviews, observations, and documentation from six institutions involved in developing various types of software. The data were then analyzed using Yin's Five Cycle content analysis method, supported by Nvivo 12 software. The findings reveal that the time required for gathering requirements varies between institutions (four institutions take 1 week to 1 month, two take 1 to 3 months, and two take over 3 months). Regarding the analysts' backgrounds, all institutions consider requirements elicitation a critical stage in software development, leading them to hire analysts with IT educational backgrounds, most of whom possess significant work experience. This is further evidenced by the fact that all institutions consider staff experience when forming requirements analysis teams and assigning senior staff to specific roles. There is limited practical variation in the sources of requirements and elicitation techniques. All institutions rely on objectives, domain knowledge, stakeholders, and the operational environment as sources of requirements. As for elicitation techniques, they primarily use interviews, facilitated meetings, and document reviews.

Collage-based narratives of mothers of third culture kids: the in-between space of transnational families in the UAE.

This study delves into the lives of transnational families in the UAE, exploring their complex identities using a visual research approach known as the Collage Life Elicitation Technique (CLET). Both the topic and the methodology are framed within a theoretical lens of Verstehen (understanding) with a view to further exploring the lives of transnational families in the context of a pragmatic phenomenology and within the setting of the UAE as a rentier state. The lives of families such as these are characterized by a cross-cultural lifestyle, high mobility and expected repatriation. This paper presents narratives of eight transnational families in the UAE as expressed by the mother of each family unit, and seeks to expand on how these mothers view the identity of their families as expatriates living in the UAE. Findings indicate that these families navigate an intricate world where they are neither entirely of their host country nor of their passport country. The family unit plays a pivotal role in these families' lives, acting as a bridge between their host culture and their home culture, serving as a nucleus for their evolving identities.

Transcription Factor Binding Site Prediction Using CnNet Approach.

Controlling the gene expression is the most important development in a living organism, which makes it easier to find different kinds of diseases and their causes. It's very difficult to know what factors control the gene expression. Transcription Factor (TF) is a protein that plays an important role in gene expression. Discovering the transcription factor has immense biological significance, however, it is challenging to develop novel techniques and evaluation for regulatory developments in biological structures. In this research, we mainly focus on 'sequence specificities' that can be ascertained from experimental data with 'deep learning' techniques, which offer a scalable, flexible and unified computational approach for predicting transcription factor binding. Specifically, Multiple Expression motifs for Motif Elicitation (MEME) technique with Convolution Neural Network (CNN) named as CnNet, has been used for discovering the 'sequence specificities' of DNA gene sequences dataset. This process involves two steps: a) discovering the motifs that are capable of identifying useful TF binding site by using MEME technique, and b) computing a score indicating the likelihood of a given sequence being a useful binding site by using CNN technique. The proposed CnNet approach predicts the TF binding score with much better accuracy compared to existing approaches. The source code and datasets used in this work are available at https://github.com/masoodbai/CnNet-Approach-for-TFBS.git.

Comparing metaphor elicitation models

Abstract Metaphor has increasingly been recognized as an effective investigative tool, especially in educational research, because it allows for insight into implicit beliefs, values and assumptions about the world around us. This article discusses methodological issues involved in ‘getting at’ students’ metaphors, the first step in metaphor analysis in educational research. Our focus is on techniques of eliciting metaphor, where respondents are overtly prompted to produce a metaphor about a particular issue. We discuss different elicitation techniques in four studies: study 1 without any scaffolding, just a prompt for eliciting metaphor; study 2 with minimal scaffolding in the form of a definition of metaphor and illustrative examples; study 3 with a brief classroom intervention before elicitation; and study 4 with a longer intervention over an entire semester. We gained the most thorough results in study 4, which also arguably provided the most valuable learning experience for the respondents. This came at a price however — a great investment of time over the course of a semester. In the event that no classroom time may be set aside for work with metaphor, the non-interventional approach of study 2 offers an acceptable alternative. Even a few explanatory lines about metaphor prove helpful in eliciting metaphor.

When words fail us: An integrative review of innovative elicitation techniques for qualitative interviews.

Interviews are central to many qualitative studies in health professions education (HPE). However, researchers often struggle to elicit rich data and engage diverse participants who may find this strategy exclusionary. Elicitation techniques are strategies tailored to address these challenges, enhancing oral conversations through other forms of interaction-for example, participant photography and neighbourhood walks. These strategies are tailored to elicit the rich data needed to address complex problems and meaningfully engage participants. Unfortunately, guidance on these techniques is scattered across literatures from diverse fields. In this synthesis, we offer an overview of the elicitation techniques available and advice about how to choose between them. We conducted an integrative review, drawing on methodological literature from across the health and social sciences. Our interdisciplinary searches yielded 3056 citations. We included 293 citations that were methodologically focused and discussed elicitation techniques used in interviews with adults. We then extracted specific elicitation techniques, summarising each technique to capture key features, as well as strengths and weaknesses. From this, we developed a framework to help researchers identify challenges in their interview-based research and to select elicitation techniques that address their challenges. To enrich data, researchers might seek to shift conversations away from participants' entrenched narratives, to externalise conversations on sensitive topics, or to elicit affect, tacit knowledge or contextual details. When empowering participants, researchers might seek to increase equity between the researcher and participant or foster interview accessibility across diverse participant populations. When chosen with study goals in mind, elicitation techniques can enrich interview data. To harness this potential, we need to re-conceptualise interviews as co-production of knowledge by researcher(s) and participant(s). To make interviews more equitable and accessible, we need to consider flexibility so that each participant can engage in ways that best suit their needs and preferences.

Siapakah Penduduk Asli Pulau Komodo? Sebuah Kajian Linguistik Historis Komparatif dan Kaitannya dengan Persebaran Islam di Flores

Komodo is the only local language in Flores where all speakers are Muslim. In addition, the level of difference between this language and the surrounding languages is quite high. This study aims to identify the kinship of the language spoken by the people on Komodo Island and its relation to the spread of Islam in Flores. The approach used is comparative historical linguistics. Data were collected using interview and elicitation techniques using 1090 vocabularies in 12 observation points. The collected data were analyzed using Zikic's dialectometric method that compares the number of cognate vocabulary similarities. The results show that the language spoken by the people in Komodo Island tends to be related to the Mbojo language spoken on Sumbawa Island because it has an average cognate percentage of 43% which means that the two languages are two different dialects of the same language. Other elements that make up the Komodo language are Bajo (26%) and Manggarai (21%). The spread of the Komodo language is linked to the migration of people from the Sultanate of Bima to the western part of Flores Island. The distribution of Komodo speakers has significantly increased the concentration of the Muslim community in West Manggarai Regency.

How Other Specialists See Palliative Care Uncovering Their Deep Metaphors to Improve Our Initial Outreach Strategies.

Many patients who could benefit from palliative care (PC) do not access it because of the timing and tenor of the introduction provided by their specialist. A barrier to improving specialists' (from disciplines other than PC) engagement with PC services may be an inadequate understanding of how those specialists view PC. As part of a larger project to develop public messaging for advance care planning, PC, and hospice, we conducted a qualitative market research study aimed at identifying the "deep metaphors" held by specialists about PC to provide an empirical foundation for more effective outreach and messaging. To identify deep metaphors, we used the qualitative Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique to uncover thought patterns from participants' images and interview responses, revealing deeper emotional meanings and unconscious mental orientations. We enrolled 20 provider-level clinicians from a variety of professional disciplines and specialties to participate in a one-hour semi-structured interview that required prework. The interviews were videorecorded and transcribed and were analyzed along with images brought by participants using a variation of the constant comparative method. The themes included: Having to tell patients the "right" information and path; Not allowing myself to make mistakes; Depending on algorithms so I can give my patients the best care; Putting the patient in charge can challenge clinical algorithms; Observing that PC seems to lack an objectively "right" decision; Consulting PC invites subjectivity best contained at the end of the algorithm. These themes can inform strategies for outreach and messaging to other serious illness specialist clinicians to lower reluctance to consult PC, increasing patient access.

The Potential of Biotic Elicitors to Increase Isoflavone Production (Pachyrhizus erosus L.) Callus

Abstract The isoflavones contained in the Pachyrhizus plant (Pachyrhizus erosus Linn) have multiple functions, including serving as raw materials for the health/pharmacology or cosmetic industries. Isoflavones are beneficial as antioxidants, and cholesterol reducers and are capable of neutralizing free radicals and delaying aging. Tissue culture techniques are widely used to produce secondary metabolite compounds. Isoflavones can be made in vitro through callus production by tissue culture. By using elicitation techniques with the addition of various glucose concentrations to the culture media (media Murashige and Skoog or Vacin and Went), it is expected to increase the quantity and quality of callus and the content of secondary metabolites (Isoflavones) in Pachyrhizus callus. The research aims to increase the production of Isoflavones in Pachyrhizus callus by adding elicitors with various concentrations of glucose. The research method used a completely randomized factorial design. Factor I: two levels of basic media: M1 (Murashige and Skoog Media) and M2 (Vacin and Went Media). Factor II: Addition of Glucose concentrations with seven levels: 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%. The plant material used was the young leaves of Pachyrhizus. The results of the study showed that (1) all formed callus exhibited compact quality; (2) the addition of 30% glucose concentration resulted in the best growth of callus; (3) the highest Isoflavone content (0.15%) was found in the callus of Pachyrhizus erosus L. due to the treatment with both MS and VW media with 20% Glucose Elicitor

Analyzing the Impact of Verb Extensions on Semantic Role Variability in Kiha

The research analyzes the impact of verb extensions on semantic role variability in Kiha. In doing so, the study explores how verb extensions affect the semantic roles of arguments in a sentence, spotting trends and patterns in the usage of verb extensions, and the differences in their corresponding semantic roles. Verb extensions on semantic role variability are linguistic aspects that scholars did not find particularly fascinating to research. This study is interested in examining how verb extensions affect semantic role variability. Due to their proficiency in both writing and speaking Kiha, two informants who are native speakers, aged 83 and 73, were selected for the data collection process using the qualitative approach and elicitation technique. Data is presented using the fragmentation method, and coding is applied to ensure that the study is consistent with other studies that were cited in the literature. Lexical Mapping Theory is the framework for examining the data. The study concludes that the applicative verb extension has four semantic roles: beneficiary, recipient, reason/cause, and locative. Likewise, causative verb extension has two semantic roles: causee and instrument. Reciprocal and passive verb extensions have shared participant semantic roles.

A systematic review of unique methods for measuring discount rates

AbstractDiscount rates play a pivotal role in various fields, capturing the trade-off between present and future, influencing predictions of unhealthy behaviors. Despite substantial variations in discount rates across studies, methods, and individuals, our goal was to systematically overview diverse methods for measuring discount rates. We conducted a comprehensive literature review across multiple databases, targeting English studies introducing and utilizing discounting measurement methods in human subjects. Two authors screened titles and abstracts, with full text review split between them. Extracted data encompassed bibliographic details, theoretical aspects (e.g., discount function), and operational features (e.g., elicitation procedure). After deduplication, 4976, 218, and 83 records underwent title and abstract screening, full text screening, and inclusion, respectively. A total of 86 unique methods were identified. Predominantly, methods were devised for money (75%) and health (22%) discounting. Network analysis on citations indicated limited cross-disciplinary overlap. Only about one fourth, one third, and one third of methods possessed theoretically desirable traits: i) allowance for negative discount rates, ii) application of multiple discount functions, and iii) correction for non-linear utility of outcomes. Diverse discounting measurement methods exist, showcasing varied theoretical and operational characteristics. These differences may stem from the isolation of development in fields like psychology, experimental economics, and health economics. Our systematic review aids readers in choosing methods aligned with their priorities when measuring discount rates.

Gamify4LexAmb: a gamification-based approach to address lexical ambiguity in natural language requirements.

Ambiguity is a common challenge in specifying natural language (NL) requirements. One of the reasons for the occurrence of ambiguity in software requirements is the lack of user involvement in requirements elicitation and inspection phases. Even if they get involved, it is hard for them to understand the context of the system, and ultimately unable to provide requirements correctly due to a lack of interest. Previously, the researchers have worked on ambiguity avoidance, detection, and removal techniques in requirements. Still, less work is reported in the literature to actively engage users in the system to reduce ambiguity at the early stages of requirements engineering. Traditionally, ambiguity is addressed during inspection when requirements are initially specified in the SRS document. Resolving or removing ambiguity during the inspection is time-consuming, costly, and laborious. Also, traditional elicitation techniques have limitations like lack of user involvement, inactive user participation, biases, incomplete requirements, etc. Therefore, in this study, we have designed a framework, Gamif ication for Lex ical Amb iguity (Gamify4LexAmb), for detecting and reducing ambiguity using gamification. Gamify4LexAmb engages users and identifies lexical ambiguity in requirements, which occurs in polysemy words where a single word can have several different meanings. We have also validated Gamify4LexAmb by developing an initial prototype. The results show that Gamify4LexAmb successfully identifies lexical ambiguities in given requirements by engaging users in requirements elicitation. In the next part of our research, an industrial case study will be performed to understand the effects of gamification on real-time data for detecting and reducing NL ambiguity.

EEG might be better left alone, but ERPs must be attended to: Optimizing the late positive potential preprocessing pipeline

The late positive potential (LPP) is an ERP component commonly used to study emotional processes and has been proposed as a neuroaffective biomarker for research and clinical uses. These applications, however, require standardized procedures for elicitation and ERP data processing.We evaluated the impact of different EEG preprocessing steps on the LPP's data quality and statistical power. Using a diverse sample of 158 adults, we implemented a multiverse analytical approach to compare preprocessing pipelines that progressively incorporated more steps: artifact detection and rejection, bad channel interpolation, and bad segment deletion. We assessed each pipeline's effectiveness by computing the standardized measurement error (SME) and conducting simulated experiments to estimate statistical power in detecting significant LPP differences between emotional and neutral images.Our findings highlighted that artifact rejection is crucial for enhancing data quality and statistical power. Voltage thresholds to reject trials contaminated by artifacts significantly affected SME and statistical power. Once artifact detection was optimized, further steps provided minor improvements in data quality and statistical power. Importantly, different preprocessing pipelines yielded similar outcomes.These results underscore the robustness of the LPP's affective modulation to preprocessing choices and the critical role of effective artifact management. By refining and standardizing preprocessing procedures, the LPP can become a reliable neuroaffective biomarker, supporting personalized clinical interventions for affective disorders.

Technology foresight in Indonesia: developing scenarios to determine electrical vehicle research priority for future innovation

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine research areas that are most favorable in supporting the development and manufacturing of electric vehicle (EV) components locally in Indonesia for 2025–2035. Therefore, will provide direction for the formulation of the related government policies and programs. Consequently, an EV technology research priority must be identified. Design/methodology/approach A technology foresight (TF) procedure which consists of a STEEPV analysis, followed by scenarios development and expert elicitation techniques, was conducted to determine an EV technology research priority that may direct future specific local component innovations, and therefore businesses. Findings The results of this study indicate that research in a range of EV battery technologies, technologies relating to a variety of key components (to increase local content) and autonomous systems were important to support the local development and manufacturing of EV components in Indonesia. Research limitations/implications In this study, the scenarios development process was conducted based on selected available experts, mostly internally from BRIN. Some biased opinions may be present. Originality/value There have not been any TF studies regarding the development of EV technology research priority in Indonesia.

Crossed by the border: children’s lived experiences with flooding in an urbanized transborder watershed

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the differential effect of the US-Mexico border on the lived experience of children exposed to flooding risk in an urbanized transborder watershed. The central argument is that this geopolitical border is an institution generative of social and spatial processes that create and thrive on differences and expose children on both sides of the border to high but unequal hazard levels. We pose that children’s bifurcated experiences with rain evince the border’s structuring power as a supra institution producing a socio-spatial regime that enables environmental inequities producing disparate representations of place. Understanding children’s lived experiences is critical to reducing their vulnerability in a highly integrated cross-border urbanization. Framed as a case study based on qualitative data obtained through narratives and visual elicitation techniques, the analysis reveals children’s experiences with flooding and associated hazards that have not been exposed in prior border research and have important implications for integrated disaster management, environmental justice, and resilience in border regions and cities.

Conspicuous compensatory consumption: scale development and initial validation

PurposeThis study aims to develop and validate a measure for conspicuous compensatory consumption. Compensatory consumption phenomenon is gaining increased significance in consumer behavior literature. In a symbolic-rich culture, the use of possessions creates a perfect venue for self-construction and self-repairing to make up for one’s psychological deficiencies and inadequacies.Design/methodology/approachA mixed research design of qualitative and quantitative methodologies is adopted by using elicitation techniques, interviews and survey data. Extensive development and validation procedures are used. A series of studies, encompassing a total sample of 1,782, are reported.FindingsThe current study offers a valid and reliable measure for conspicuous compensatory consumption by chronologically following the stages of the scale development process. Compensatory consumption had a negative influence on subjective happiness and a positive influence on negative affect and satisfaction with life. Respondents with high materialism scores had significantly higher compensatory tendencies than the low materialism group. The low self-compassionate group had significantly higher compensatory tendencies than the high self-compassionate group.Originality/valueThe current study provides theoretical contributions to consumer behavior research by providing a valid and reliable measure for conspicuous compensatory consumption. Contrary to past scales that followed a mood-alleviation perspective where therapeutic shopping is used to regulate negative emotions, this scale is novel in adopting a self-completion approach where products are pursued for a tactical effort to offset threatened self-concepts.